the hard r is a subtle but culturally important difference between the word nigga and nigger the latter pronounced with a hard r final sound as opposed to a shwa a sound nigga is commonly used within the black community and notably in rap music it is most generally accepted as a reclaimed word used with a particular purpose within a community at whom it was previously used harmfully see also some cicles of the gay community using fag and more widely the use of queer in lgbtq culture nigger on the other hand is pretty much considered offensive in most circles it is definitely a subtle distinction particularly in spoken language but that is what they mean by the use of the hard r and why it would matter to those talking about it